The Who and Zak Starkey: A Turbulent Departure
In a surprising turn of events, iconic band The Who has parted ways with drummer Zak Starkey once again. This announcement comes shortly after an initial split was followed by his brief reinstatement.
On Sunday, guitarist and primary songwriter Pete Townshend took to Instagram to reveal that Starkey, the son of legendary Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, had officially exited the band for a second time. Townshend expressed his sentiments with, “After many years of great work on drums from Zak, the time has come for a change,” followed by best wishes for Starkey’s future projects.
“After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change,” Townshend wrote. “A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.”
In response to the announcement, Starkey quickly refuted claims that his departure was by his own volition. He took to Instagram to clarify the circumstances, stating, “I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit the band to pursue my other musical endeavors. This would be a lie.” Starkey emphasized his love for the band and denied ever intending to leave.
“I love The Who and would never had quit. So I didn’t make the statement ….quitting the Who would also have let down the countless amazing people who supported me through the weeks of mayhem,” he noted, alluding to his tumultuous recent history with the band.
The tension escalated earlier this year in mid-April when The Who announced Starkey’s initial departure, attributed to disagreements during a performance at the Royal Albert Hall. The band described it as a “collective decision to part ways.”However, shortly afterward, Townshend affirmed that communication issues had been resolved and welcomed Starkey back to the fold.
“There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with,” Townshend commented at the time, indicating that both Starkey and the band aimed for a harmonious collaboration moving forward. Unfortunately, this reconciliation was short-lived, marking another chapter in Starkey’s complex relationship with The Who.
As the music world watches these developments, many fans and industry insiders are left wondering about the future of both Starkey and The Who. It raises questions about the challenges bands face in maintaining internal harmony amidst creative differences.